Nicki Minaj 'Starships' Lawsuit: Producer Clive Tanaka Claims Minaj Jacked His 'Neu Chicago' Track For Smash Hit

Nicki Minaj is the latest high-profile rap act to be slapped with charges of copyright infringement. The "Super Bass" singer is being accused by EDM producer Clive Tanaka of lifting the idea for her track "Starships" from his song "Neu Chicago."

Via The Chicago Tribute:

In a copyright infringement suit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, Tanaka said Minaj and several of her "Starships" collaborators copied substantial portions of "Neu Chicago," which Tanaka claims had already enjoyed widespread airplay in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands of listens online by the time "Starships" was written. 

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In addition to Minaj, the lawsuit names RedOne, whose real name is Nadir Khayat, a Moroccan producer and songwriter behind hits for stars like Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull. Also named are three other writers on "Starships," Carl Falk, Wayne Hector and Rami Yacoub. 

Tanaka's suit claims that many members of "Starships" writing and production team are Swedish, and would have had ample opportunity to hear his 2011 track, as it was featured in several ad campaigns in the country.

"Starships" was one of Minaj's most sucessful tracks, selling over 7 million copies around the world. Tanaka has cut the tracks together in a Soundcloud clip titled "Neu Starships?" Minaj's song is panned left, while Tanaka's track plays simultaneously from the right.

Personal opinion alert: I think Tanaka's going to lose this one. While the tracks do sound slightly similar, it seems as if the producer is trying to copyright a chord progression. That won't stand up in court.

What do you think? Did Minaj steal Tanaka's "Neu Chicago"?